Prepared in cooperation with the National Park Service Water-Quality and Fish-Community Data for the Niobrara National Scenic River, , 2003–05

Introduction land-use practices, and other factors are affecting the . In 1991, a 76-mile reach of the Niobrara River in north- central Nebraska was designated as a National Scenic River Background (NSR). This reach of the river hosts a unique ecosystem that provides habitat for a diverse fish and wildlife population The Niobrara River extends 536 miles from eastern that include several threatened and endangered species. The to its mouth near Niobrara, Nebraska. Streamflow Niobrara NSR also is a popular destination for campers, canoe- within the basin is derived primarily from snowmelt and seep- ists, kayakers, and tubers. age from the underlying High Plains aquifer. Flows are usually Changes in surface-water quality, related to recreation, highest in the spring and early summer and lowest in late sum- mer and early fall. Land use in the Niobrara River Basin primar- industrial and municipal discharge, and agricultural activities in ily consists of rangeland, alfalfa, and row crops. Minnechaduza the region have the potential to affect fish and wildlife popula- Creek, a small tributary to the Niobrara River, located on the tions within the Niobrara NSR. Additionally, water users may northern edge of Valentine, Nebraska, the largest community in be at risk if elevated concentrations of chemical or biological the sparsely populated region, receives runoff and treated waste- contaminants are present in the waterway. The U.S. Geologi- water discharge from the city. cal Survey (USGS) and the National Park Service (NPS) began The Niobrara NSR designation begins near Valentine and a 3-year cooperative study of water-quality characteristics in extends 76 miles downstream to north of Newport, Nebraska, Niobrara NSR in 2003. During the study, water samples were and encompasses 23,000 acres of open water, forests, hills, prai- collected for analysis of a suite of physical, chemical, and ries, and canyons. The area received approximately 53,400 visi- biological indicators of water quality in the Niobrara River. tors in 2004 (National Park Service, 2005). Although recreation The resulting data have been published previously (Hitch and activities take place year-round, the greatest public use occurs others, 2004; Hitch and others, 2005) and included: major ions, from mid-May to mid-October. nutrients, trace elements, pesticides, organic (wastewater) com- The study area includes the 35-mile reach of the Niobrara pounds, bacteria, and suspended sediment. In addition to water- NSR from the Borman Bridge to the Carns Bridge (fig. 1). Four quality sampling, fish communities were sampled to identify the sites were selected to monitor water-quality conditions from presence and diversity of species at selected sites (data available online in Annual Water Data Reports). These water-quality and fish-community data are summarized in this report. The data were collected to provide baseline information that will help NPS managers determine if changes in recreational activities,

Photograph by Stuart Schneider, National Park Service

U.S. Department of the Interior Fact Sheet 2007–3098 U.S. Geological Survey Printed on recycled paper April 2008 100°30’ 20’ 10’ 100° 50’ 40’ 99°30’ Todd County Tripp County Basin 43° Gregory County NEBRASKA 83 183 Ke ya P aha River Sparks Basin 12 9 11 13 14 Burton eek4 12 M a Cr 10 12 innechaduz 8 15 7 16 STUDY AREA 20 6 2 Nio bra Valentine 1 ra Keya Paha County 5 National Wildlife 97 Refuge 50’ Borman bridge 12 Springview Cherry County 17 Norden bridge 3

River Niobrara National Scenic River 18 19 7 21 Carns bridge 83 Niobrara River Basin 20 22 20 ek re e C Long Pin 42°40’ Rock County Brown County 183 Wood Lake Elkhorn River Basin

Base from U.S. Geological Survey digital data, 1:100,000, 1999 0 3 6 9 12 MILES Universal Transverse Mercator projection, Zone 14 0 3 6 9 12 KILOMETERS

Horizontal coordinate information is referenced to the North American Datum of 1983 (NAD 83)

EXPLANATION Extent of High Plains aquifer SOUTH DAKOTA Niobrara National Scenic River Keya Paha River designation drainage area Boundary of drainage basin Niobrara River Study area 3 Water-quality sampling site and drainage area Newport map number NEBRASKA 17 Fish community sampling site and map number Index map

Figure 1. Location of the study area for water-quality and fish-community data collection for the Niobrara National Scenic River, Nebraska, 2003–05.

June to September 2003 and from May to December 2004. and 11 were located on selected tributaries (fig. 1). Potential Filtered (0.45-micron) and unfiltered samples were collected fish migration barriers occurred within the reach such as the to evaluate dissolved and total concentrations. Samples were Cornell Dam, a large knickpoint near the Norden bridge, and collected twice in June 2003 and once per month from July rock riffles. Samples were obtained using electroshocking and through September 2003 using methods described in Meyers seining techniques (fig. 2) primarily during early to mid-Sep- (2004) and Wilde (variously dated), and U.S. Geological Survey tember 2003–05. (variously dated). Samples were collected monthly from May 2004 through December 2004. Three of the four sampling sites Water-Quality Properties were located along the Niobrara River—upstream from Fort Niobrara at the Borman Bridge (site During water-quality sample collection, study personnel 1, USGS station 06460800), at Berry Bridge near Sparks (site measured specific conductance, pH, air and water tempera- 2, USGS station 06461500), and at the Norden Bridge (site 3, tures, and dissolved oxygen concentration using calibrated USGS station 06462000). The fourth site was located on Min- instruments (Wilde, chapter sections variously dated). Specific nechaduza Creek downstream from Valentine (site 4, USGS conductance values measured at the Niobrara River sites ranged station 06461010). A continuous streamflow recorder has been from 198 to 229 microsiemens per centimeter at 25 degrees in operation at Berry Bridge near Sparks (site 2) since 1946. Celsius (µS/cm) and were less than values measured in Min- Fish-community sampling occurred once at each of 18 nechaduza Creek (site 4), which ranged from 285 to 335 µS/cm. sites of which 7 were located on the Niobrara River main stem Specific conductance observations at individual sites did not often are associated with agricultural runoff and with detergents and chemicals found in municipal wastewater discharges and septic systems (Mueller and Helsel, 1996). Excessive nutrient concentrations can trigger algal blooms (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 1986) that may cause decreases in dissolved oxygen and increases in suspended materials. All samples were analyzed for eight nutrient compounds at the NWQL (Fishman, 1993). Nitrite plus nitrate was less than 1 mg/L as nitrogen in all of the samples. In most months, water from the Minnecha- duza Creek site showed the largest concentrations of unfiltered ammonia plus organic nitrogen, filtered ammonia plus organic nitrogen, nitrite, nitrate, filtered phosphorus, and organophos- phates. Of the 51 unfiltered samples collected in the Niobrara NSR that were analyzed for total phosphorus, 45 exceeded the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) recommenda- tion of 0.1 mg/L for avoiding algal blooms (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 1986). In general, phosphorus concentra- tions in samples from the Minnechaduza Creek site were higher Figure 2. Collecting fish by electroshocking technique, Niobrara than the phosphorus concentrations at other sites for the cor- River Nebraska. Photograph by Stuart Schneider, National Park responding sampling event. Service. vary substantially. At the Niobrara River sites, pH values varied Trace Elements from 7.8 to 8.7 standard units, and in general, the values were Naturally occurring arsenic can be found in deposits of the smallest at the most upstream site (Borman Bridge, site 1). In Cretaceous-aged Niobrara Formation and Carlile Shale of the most cases, pH values were highest at the Minnechaduza Creek Colorado Group that underlie the study area (Bradley, 1956). site (site 4), where pH ranged from 8.1 to 8.8 and the highest Uranium is known to occur in water-bearing units of the Brule pH value (8.8) of all samples at all sites was measured in May Formation and Chadron Formation in Nebraska west of the 2004. The highest water temperatures usually were measured study area (Dickinson, 1991). These compounds can be carried when the highest air temperatures were measured, and the to streams from ground water and on sediment during surface lowest water temperatures were measured when the lowest air runoff events. For the protection of aquatic life, the Nebraska temperatures were measured at all four water-quality sites. Dis- Department of Environmental Quality criteria (Nebraska solved oxygen concentrations were larger than 7.2 milligrams Department of Environmental Quality, 2006) require long- per liter (mg/L) in all samples and typically were larger when term average arsenic concentrations to be less than 16.7 µg/L. water temperatures were low. Dissolved oxygen concentrations Although there is no State standard for dissolved uranium for usually were largest at Berry Bridge near Sparks (site 2) and the protection of aquatic life, uranium concentrations in public- smallest at Norden Bridge (site 3). drinking water must be less than 30 µg/L (Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality, 2006). All samples were analyzed for Major Ions trace elements arsenic, lead and uranium at the NWQL (Faires, 1993). Concentrations for trace elements including arsenic, lead, All water-quality samples were analyzed for 10 major and uranium were determined in samples from Minnechaduza ions at the USGS National Water Quality Laboratory (NWQL) Creek (site 4) and on the Niobrara River at the Borman Bridge in Lakewood, Colorado, using methods described in Fishman (site 1). Arsenic concentrations were similar at the two sites and (1993). The dominant cation in water at the sampling sites ranged from 4.9 to 7.2 µg/L. Lead concentrations were near or was calcium. Sulfate and chloride were the dominant anions. less than the minimum reporting level of the laboratory method Samples from the Niobrara River sites showed stable major ion (0.08 µg/L). Uranium concentrations ranged from 0.81 to 1.62 concentrations throughout the sampling period and were less µg/L, with slightly higher concentrations detected in samples than concentrations in Minnechaduza Creek. Potassium con- from the Minnechaduza Creek site. centrations ranged from 5 to 7 mg/L in samples from Niobrara River sites and from 6 to 10 mg/L in samples from the Min- Pesticides nechaduza site. Silica concentrations ranged from 40 to 70 mg/L in samples from the Niobrara River and from 42 to 47 mg/L in Pesticides are commonly detected at surface-water sites in samples from Minnechaduza Creek. Iron concentrations were Nebraska because of widespread use in agriculture and urban near or less than the minimum reporting level (8 micrograms settings (Larson and others, 1999). Water samples collected per liter (µg/L)) in all samples. Fluoride concentrations ranged near the Norden Bridge (site 3) were analyzed for 65 pesti- from 0.3 to 0.5 mg/L in all samples. cide compounds at the NWQL (Zaugg and others, 1995). Four compounds were detected in trace concentrations [atrazine, 2-chloro-4-isopropylamino-6-amino-s-triazine (an atrazine deg- Nutrients radate), metolachlor, and trifluralin]. Atrazine, metolachlor, and Nutrients, such as nitrogen and phosphorus compounds, trifluran are herbicides used to control weeds in corn, soybeans, occur naturally in surface water, but elevated concentrations and other crops. One compound, Deet, was detected at concen- trations greater than 1 µg/L. Deet, which is commonly found in life (Waters, 1995). Suspended-sediment samples were col- insect repellents, was detected in the August 2004 samples from lected concurrently with each water-quality sample. In general, Minnechaduza Creek (site 4), and from the Niobrara River (sites suspended-sediment concentrations increased downstream on the 2 and 3) and in three September 2004 samples (sites 1, 2, and Niobrara River and ranged from 22 to 1,170 mg/L for sites on the 4). No other pesticides were detected. Niobrara River. Suspended-sediment concentrations in Minnecha- duza Creek were less than 30 mg/L for all samples. Samples Organic Wastewater Compounds collected in late June 2003 did not have substantially higher sedi- ment concentrations than samples collected in other months. Organic wastewater compounds (OWCs) are chemicals such as household, industrial, and agricultural-use compounds, pharmaceuticals, antibiotics, and sterols and hormones that can Fish-Community Data enter streams and ground water through discharge from munici- At 18 sites on the Niobrara River and its tributaries (table pal and industrial wastewater-treatment plants, domestic septic 1), fish were collected using electroshocking and seining systems, animal feedlots, and other sources (Lee and others, techniques (Meador and others, 1993). Twenty-seven dif- 2004). Samples at all 4 sites were analyzed for the presence ferent species were identified within the study area, and the of 62 OWCs at the NWQL using methods developed by the greatest number of unique species was found at a site on the USGS (Zaugg and others, 2002). Tris(2-butoxyethyl) phosphate, Niobrara River upstream from (17 unique spe- a flame retardant, was detected at a low concentration in one cies collected). However, the overall number of unique species sample from Minnechaduza Creek (site 4) on August 23, 2003. was greater at sites downstream from the Norden Bridge. The This detection and the detection of Deet coincide with the peak Norden Bridge location marks a distinct change from a swift, period of recreational activity and with locations downstream narrow channel upstream to a broad, shallow channel down- from municipal and recreational uses and sites where fire-fight- stream with fewer riffles and pebble beds than upstream from ing activities may have occurred. Five other organic wastewater the bridge. Additionally, the Norden Bridge is located near a compounds (isophorone, napthalene, phenanthrene, 1,4-dichlo- steep drop in streambed elevation, which may be an obstacle to robenzene, and caffeine) were present at detectable concentra- upstream migration. Some species, such as red shiner (Notropis tions, but the concentrations of these compounds were too small lutrensis), sand shiner (Notropis stramineus), and bigmouth to be quantified. shiner (Notropis dorsalis) were numerous and widespread and, in general, appeared to lack abnormalities. Longnose dace Bacteria (Rhinichthys cataractae) were present at most sites but were Surface water commonly contains Escherichia coli recorded in fewer numbers at sites downstream from the Norden (E. coli) bacteria originating from humans, livestock, and Bridge. The presence of river carpsuckers (Carpiodes carpio) wildlife (Hyer and Moyer, 2003). Exposure to elevated densi- and quillback carpsuckers (Carpiodes cyprinus) was confined ties of E. coli can pose health risks to humans recreating in or to reaches downstream from the Norden Bridge. Other spe- around the affected water body. Nebraska water-quality stan- cies, such as brown trout (Salmo trutta), rainbow trout (Onco- dards require that the geometric mean of E. coli densities (based rhynchus mykiss), brook stickleback (Culaea inconstans), plains on a minimum of 5 samples collected within a 30-day period) topminnow (Fundulus sciadicus), and western silvery min- in streams designated as moderately used recreational water now (Hybothnathus argyritis), were limited to just a few sites. must not exceed 298 colonies per 100 milliliter (col/100 mL) Gamefish such as largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides), (Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality, 2006). Grab green sunfish (Lepomis cyanellus), bluegill (Lepomis macro- samples for E. coli were collected at all four sites using meth- chirus), and channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) were found ods described in Meyers (2004) and processed in sterilized equipment for each sample collection, except the first sam- ple collection in June 2003 did not include bacteria samples. Samples were cultured using the modified mTEC method (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2002). E. coli were detected in all samples, and the density of 298 col/100 mL was exceeded during two sample collections. The largest E. coli observed density during the study was 1,000 col/ 100 mL was detected at the Minnechaduza Creek (site 4) in early November 2004. The largest density measured on the Niobrara River was 450 col/100 mL at site 1 in a late June 2003 sample following several days of intense rain. Because these were individual sample collections rather than sets of five per month, they do not necessarily indicate that E. coli criteria exceeded the water-quality standards for Nebraska.

Suspended Sediment Large suspended-sediment concentrations can have negative effects on the habitat, health, and behavior of aquatic Photograph by Robert Swanson, U.S. Geological Survey Table 1. Fish species collected using electroshocking and seining techniques at selected sites on the Niobrara River.

[BLG, bluegill; BMS, bigmouth shiner; BM, brassy minnow; BKS, brook stickleback; BKT, brown trout ; CCF, channel catfish; CCA, common carp; CCH, creek chub; FHC, flathead chub; FHM, fathead minnow; GP, grass pickerel; GSF, green sunfish; LMB, largemouth bass; LND, longnose dace; MC, mirror carp; NP, northern pike; PTM, plains top minnow; QCS, quillback carpsucker: RBT, rainbow trout; RCS, river carpsucker; RSH, red shiner; SSH, sand shiner; SRH, shorthead redhorse; STC, stone cat; WSV, western silvery minnow; WSK, white sucker; YWP, yellow perch]

Site Latitude Longitude Site Date Species Identified 5 42.851 -100.508 Niobrara R below Borman Bridge near 9/15/2003 BMS, BKT, CCF, CCA, GP, LND, NP, RSH, SSH, Valentine, Nebr. SRH, STC, WSK 6 42.871 -100.500 Trib Below Borman Bridge 9/16/2003 BKS, PTM 7 42.877 -100.490 Niobrara Mainstem above Cornell Dam 9/16/2003 BMS, BKT, FHM, GP, LND, NP, RSH, SSH, SRH, WSK 8 42.898 -100.485 Minnechaduza Creek 9/16/2003 CCH, LMB, LND, SRH, STC, WSK 9 42.901 -100.482 Trib Downstream from Refuge Bridge- 9/17/2003 None Trib 2 10 42.902 -100.466 Niobrara Mainstem just upstream from 9/17/2003 BMS, CCA, CCH, GSF, LND, RSH, SSH, SRH, Fort Falls STC, WSK 11 42.905 -100.421 Big Beaver Creek 9/17/2003 BM, CCH, FHM, LND 12 42.908 -100.394 Crooked Creek 9/17/2003 CCH, LND 13 42.904 -100.369 Kewanee Creek 9/17/2003 None 14 42.900 -100.323 Niobrara Mainstem 1 1/2 miles upstream 9/18/2003 BMS, BM, CCA, CCH, FHM, GP, LMB, LND, MC, from Smith Falls NP, RSH, SSH, SRH, STC, WSV, WSK, YWP 15 42.890 -100.315 Smith Falls 9/18/2003 RBT 16 42.908 -100.455 Unnamed Trib 3 9/17/2003 None 17 42.721 -99.631 Long Pine Creek 9/9/2004 BMS, BM, BKT, CCH, FHM, LMB, LND, RSH, SSH, SRH, STC, WSK, FHC, BLG, RCS 18 42.728 -99.486 Laughing Water Creek 9/10/2004 BKT, LND, RSH 19 42.753 -99.844 Niobrara Mainstem below Meadville 9/8/2004 BMS, BM, CCF, CCH, FHM, LMB, LND, PTM, Bridge RSH, SSH, SRH, STC, WSK, FHC, BLG, RCS, QCS 20 42.751 -99.855 Plum Creek 9/7/2004 BMS, BM, CCH, FHM, GSF, LMB, LND, PTM, RSH, SSH, SRH, WSK, BLG, RCS 21 42.730 -99.497 Niobrara River Upstream from Carns 9/13/2005 BMS, BM, CCF, CCA, CCH, FHM, LMB, RSH, Bridge SSH, SRH, STC, WSK, FHC, RCS, QCS 22 42.805 -100.122 Niobrara River Downstream of Eglehoff 9/14/2005 BMS, CCH, FHM, GSF, LMB, LND, RSH, SSH, Rapids SRH, STC, WSK throughout the Niobrara NSR, but more commonly downstream Dickinson, K.A., 1991, Uranium diagenesis in evaporate lacus- from the Norden Bridge. Grass pickerel (Esox americanus trine mudstone of the Oligocene White River Group, Dawes vermiculatus) and northern pike (Esox lucius) were collected in County, Nebraska: U.S. Geological Survey Professional reaches upstream from Cornell Dam. Paper 17, 69 p.

Acknowledgements Faires, L.M., 1993, Methods of analysis by the U.S. Geological Survey National Water Quality Laboratory—Determination The author thanks the staff of the National Park Service for of metals in water by inductively coupled plasma-mass spec- their cooperation and contribution to this study. Appreciation is trometry: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 92–634, extended to the landowners for providing access to sampling sites. 28 p.

―By B.J. Dietsch Fishman, M.J., ed., 1993, Methods of analysis by the U.S. Geological Survey National Water Quality Laboratory— References Cited Determination of inorganic and organic constituents in water and fluvial sediments: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Bradley, Edward, 1956, Geology and ground-water resources Report 93–125, 217 p. of the upper Niobrara River basin, Nebraska and Wyoming, with a section on Chemical quality of the ground water, by Hitch, D.E., Hull, S.H., Walczyk, V.C., Miller, J.D., and Drudik, F.H. Rainwater: U.S. Geological Survey Water-Supply Paper R.A., 2004, Water resources data, Nebraska, water year 2003: 1368, 70 p. U.S. Geological Survey Water-Data Report NE–03–1, 470 p. Hitch, D.E., Hull, S.H., Walczyk, V.C., Miller, J.D., and Drudik, April 30, 2007, at http://www.deq.state.ne.us/RuleAndR.nsf/ R.A., 2005, Water resources data, Nebraska, water year 2004: pages/117-TOC. U.S. Geological Survey Water-Data Report NE–04–1, 671 p. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 1986, Quality crite- Hyer, K.E., and Moyer, D.L., 2003, Patterns and sources of ria for water, 1986: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency fecal coliform bacteria in three streams in Virginia, Report 440/5–86–001, unnumbered pages. 1999–2000: U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report 03–4115, 76 p. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2002, Method 1603—Escherichia coli in water by membrane filtration Lee, K.E., Barber, L.B., Furlong, E.T., Cahill, J.D., Kolpin, using modified membrane-thermotolerant Escherichia coli D.W., Meyer, M.T., and Zaugg, S.D., 2004. Presence and agar: Washington, D.C., EPA Report 821–R–02–23, 9 p. distribution of organic wastewater compounds in wastewater, surface, ground, and drinking waters, Minnesota, 2000–2002: U.S. Geological Survey, variously dated, National field manual U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigation Report for the collection of water-quality data: U.S. Geological 2004–5138, 47 p. Survey Techniques of Water-Resources Investigations, book 9, chaps. A1–A9, available online at http://pubs.water.usgs. Meador, M.R., Cuffney, T.F., and Gurtz, M.E., 1993, Methods for sampling fish communities as part of the National Water- gov/twri9A. Quality Assessment Program: U.S. Geological Survey Open- Waters, T.F., 1995, Sediment in streams—sources, biological File Report 93–104, 40 p. effects, and control: Bethesda, Md., American Fisheries Soci- Meyers, D.N., 2004, Fecal indicator bacteria (3d ed.): U.S. ety Monograph 7, 251 p. Geological Survey Techniques of Water-Resources Investiga- Wilde, F.D., ed., chapter sections variously dated, Field mea- tions, book 9, chap. A7, section 7.1, accessed April 30, 2007, surements: U.S. Geological Survey Techniques of Water- at http://pubs.water.usgs.gov/twri9A7/. Resources Investigations, book 9, chap. A6, accessed April Mueller, D.K., and Helsel, D.R., 1996, Nutrients in the Nation’s 30, 2007, at http://pubs.water.usgs.gov/twri9A6/. water—Too much of a good thing?: U.S. Geological Survey Circular 1136, 24 p. Zaugg, S.D., Sandstrom, M.W., Smith, S.G., and Fehlberg, K.M., 1995, Methods of analysis by the U.S. Geological Larson, S.J., Gilliom, R.J., and Capel, P.D., 1999, Pesticides Survey National Water Quality Laboratory—Determination in Streams of the —Initial Results from the of pesticides in water by C-18 solid-phase extraction and National Water-Quality Assessment Program U.S. Geological capillary-column gas chromatography/mass spectrometry Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report 98–4222, with selected-ion monitoring: U.S. Geological Survey Open- 92 p. File Report 95–181, 60 p.

National Park Service, 2005, Total recreational visits for Zaugg, S.D., Smith, S.G., Schroeder, M.P., Barber, L.B., and 2004: National Park Service information available on Web, Burkhardt, M.R., 2002, Methods of analysis by the U.S. accessed September 12, 2005, at http://www.nps.gov/niob/ Geological Survey National Water-Quality Laboratory— pphtml/facts.html. determination of wastewater compounds by polystyrene-divi- Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality, 2006, Title nylbenzene solid-phase extraction and capillary-column gas 117—Nebraska surface water quality standards, Lincoln, chromatography/mass spectrometry: U.S. Geological Survey Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality, accessed Water-Resources Investigations Report 01–4186, 37 p.

Photograph by Robert Swanson, U.S. Geological Survey

For further information contact: Robert Swanson, Director U.S. Geological Survey Nebraska Water Science Center Lincoln, NE 68512 (402) 328-4100